Brandon Roy to undergo surgery Friday, out for Phoenix series

View full sizeThe Associated PressBlazers guard Brandon Roy has opted for surgery on his injured right knee, meaning he will miss Portland's playoff series against the Phoenix Suns.It was in an empty gym Thursday at the Trail Blazers practice facility where Brandon Roy came to the conclusion the organization had feared since Sunday:

His right knee injury was too severe to continue playing.

After a brief and light workout on Thursday, Roy decided to have surgery to repair a tear of the meniscus in his right knee. The surgery, to be performed today by team doctor Don Roberts, will keep him out of the best-of-seven first round series against Phoenix, and if the Blazers win, probably the next series as well.

Roy, who has had two previous meniscus surgeries, said earlier in the week that he typically needed four-to-six weeks of rehabilitation to get back on the court.

The decision came a day earlier than the team expected. The team was awarded an off day on Thursday, and Roy planned to test his knee at practice today.

But coach Nate McMillan said Roy for the past two days had been coming into the practice facility on his own to shoot by himself. On Thursday, while the coaching staff was in a meeting, Roy decided to explore the limitations on his knee.

When McMillan got out of the coach's meeting, he was met by Roy and athletic trainer Jay Jensen with disheartening news.

"He did some moving around on his own, and he came to the conclusion that he couldn't run on it," McMillan said. "Just moving around he didn't feel right."

Roy did not return phone calls Thursday evening, but did issue a statement through the team.

"This was not an easy decision to make," Roy said in the statement. "But, if I'm going to be out there, I want to be contributing. If we're fortunate enough to advance in the playoffs, having the surgery now gives me the best opportunity to help our team."

Roy's absence further establishes the Blazers as the underdog against Phoenix, which has been one of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Suns closed the season winning 14 of 16, including eight in a row at home.

If there was a player the Suns feared, it was Roy, who has been at his best the past two seasons against Phoenix.

Since the Suns traded noted defender Raja Bell in December of last season, Roy has feasted on Phoenix and Jason Richardson. In the two games after the trade last season, Roy had games of 52 points and 26 points while averaging 8 rebounds and 6 assists. In those two games, he made a combined 25-of-46 shots.

This season, Roy played in two of the three games against Phoenix and led the Blazers with an average of 25 points. He also averaged 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, but shot just 36.2 percent.

The Blazers this season won two of three meetings against Phoenix, including one in Phoenix that Roy missed because of a hamstring injury.

Roy, who led the Blazers with a 21.5 scoring average, will be replaced by Rudy Fernandez, who missed two Phoenix games this season because of injury and played only 6:31 in March 21 game, when he went scoreless. Fernandez, who is known for his three-point shooting and heady passing, averaged 8.1 points a game this season.

Roy suffered the injury while defending Ron Artest in the first quarter of Sunday's victory at the Lakers. As Roy tried to establish position in front of Artest, the Lakers forward stepped on Roy's right foot. Roy's momentum continued to carry him over his foot, causing the meniscus tear and the bones in his tibia and femur to collide, resulting in a bone bruise.

He returned later in the second quarter, but lasted only 1:16 before taking himself out of the game.

Roy sat out the Blazers' final two games and remained hopeful that the pain would subside and he would be able to contribute in the Phoenix series.

"Well, now we know," a resigned McMillan said. "We know he won't be there. But now we can focus on this group we have. And it's a group that has responded all season long."